Yu Yi (293 â April 342), courtesy name Shuyu, was a Chinese consort kin, official and military general of the Jin dynasty (266âÂÂ420). He was a member of the prestigious Yu clan of Yingchuan as the younger brother of the powerful Jin minister, Yu Liang. However, after Yu Liang died in 340, it was his youngest brother Yu Zhigong who inherited Liang's military positions, and became a prominent political force during their time with their other brother Yu Bing, who handled court affairs.
Yu Yi was born in 293, during the reign of Emperor Hui of Jin, with his empress Jia Nanfeng as regent. When they were young, Yu Yi won praise from his elder brother Liang for being unrestrained and simple. Yu Yi's father Yu Chen (庾çÂÂ) was the governor of Kuaiji Commandery along the southern shore of Hangzhou Bay and later served on the staff of Sima Rui the Prince of Langye (later Emperor Yuan) when Sima Rui was posted at Jianye. In the late 300s to early 310s, before he was 20, he was invited to serve under Sima Yang, the Prince of Xiyang; Yu Yi refused the invitation. He later served under Sima Chong, the Prince of Donghai, in several roles, before serving as Left General of the Guards.
In October 325, Yu Yi's brother-in-law Emperor Ming died. As his successor Emperor Cheng was still a child, Yu Yi's elder brother Yu Liang became regent, with their sister Yu Wenjun as empress dowager. Due to Yu Liang's mishandling, Su Jun rebelled together with Zu Yue in December 327. When rebel forces were about to capture Jiankang in 328, Yu Yi fled south together with his other brothers Liang, Tiao and Zhigong to join Wen Jiao. After the rebellion was put down in 329, Yu Yi was made Baron of Guangrao; he then took on the post of Administrator of Linchuan.
In April 339, as part of Yu Liang's plans for a northern expedition against Later Zhao, he submitted a memorial to the throne, requesting for Yu Yi to be made chief controller of all military affairs for Liangzhou and Yongzhou, Inspector of Liangzhou and garrisoned at Weixing; the memorial was approved. Later, as Weixing was deemed too remote and dangerous, Yu Yi's garrison point was shifted to Banzhou. Later that year, in November, as a response to Yu Liang's plans, Later Zhao emperor Shi Hu attacked several major cities and bases on the Jin-Zhao border, inflicting heavy losses and capturing Zhucheng (é¾åÂÂ, in modern Huanggang, Hubei) before withdrawing. With this major setback, Yu Liang had to cancel his plans; Yu Yi's appointment was then changed to Inspector of Yu Province. He was also placed in charge of all military affairs concerning Xuancheng, Lujiang, Liyang and Anfeng, and his garrison point was at Wuhu.
As Inspector of Yu Province, Yu Yi sent Inspector of Jiangzhou Wang Yunzhi (çÂÂå Âä¹Â) some poisoned wine in March 342. The suspicious Wang then fed the wine to a dog, which died after drinking; Wang then reported this secretly to Emperor Cheng. In response, Emperor Cheng exclaimed, "My elder maternal uncle had already caused chaos to the Tianxia. Now, my younger maternal uncle wishes to do the same!" When news of Emperor Cheng's response reached Yu Yi the following month, he committed suicide by poisoning himself.
Yu Tiao (庾æ¡; 305 - 349) was regarded as the least accomplished among the Yu brothers. He was known to have fled Jiankang with most of his brothers during Su Jun's rebellion. As Administrator of Linchuan, Yu Tiao was known to have put down a rebellion in his jurisdiction during the reign of his grandnephew Emperor Mu of Jin.